Document Detail


Acquired umbilical hernias in four captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus).
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20063824     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Umbilical hernias are a common occurrence in domestic animals and humans but have not been well documented in polar bears. Surgical reduction and herniorrhaphies were performed to correct acquired hernias in the region of the umbilicus in four adult captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus) housed in North American zoos. Two of the four bears were clinically unaffected by their hernias prior to surgery. One bear showed signs of severe discomfort following acute enlargement of the hernia. In another bear, re-herniation led to acute abdominal pain due to gastric entrapment and strangulation. The hernias in three bears were surgically repaired by debridement of the hernia ring and direct apposition of the abdominal wall, while the large defect in the most severely affected bear was closed using polypropylene mesh to prevent excessive tension. The cases in this series demonstrate that while small hernias may remain clinically inconsequential for long periods of time, enlargement or recurrence of the defect can lead to incarceration and acute abdominal crisis. Umbilical herniation has not been reported in free-ranging polar bears, and it is suspected that factors such as body condition, limited exercise, or enclosure design potentially contribute to the development of umbilical hernias in captive polar bears.
Authors:
Karen E Velguth; Mark C Rochat; Jennifer N Langan; Kay Backues
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians     Volume:  40     ISSN:  1042-7260     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Zoo Wildl. Med.     Publication Date:  2009 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-01-12     Completed Date:  2010-02-18     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8915208     Medline TA:  J Zoo Wildl Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  767-72     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pathobiology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA. velguth@okstate.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Female
Hernia, Umbilical / surgery,  veterinary*
Male
Ursidae*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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